Science Fiction Though the Decades

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

2011: Manhattan in Reverse (Hamilton, Peter F.)

Not as impressive as his novels (4/5)
From October 11, 2011

As a fan of the Commonwealth Series and the Void Trilogy, I was eager to
grab an early edition of Manhattan in Reverse to quench my thirst for
Hamilton's style of science fiction- wordy, descriptive and
all-encompassing. Indeed, some of the stories in this 7-story collection
uphold some the prior values, but the lack the sort of characterization
which I fondly recall when the reading the five books mentioned in the
opening sentence, a skill I thought which Hamilton was especially adept
at. Unfortunately, Hamilton was unable to infiltrate characterization
into these morsels of science fiction (it's a common symptom of short
fiction, I know). Regardless, none of the stories fall flat on its face
and all the conclusions leave the reader with something to ponder. It
may not be varied at Banks's The State of the Art or as technologically wonderful as Reynolds's Zima Blue, but the collection comes across as a good addition to the Hamilton library lining my shelves.

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Watching
Trees Grow (2000, novella) - 3/5 - Justin Ascham Raleigh is murdered in his own room
but police and Raleigh family representative Edward Buchanan Raleigh are
at a loss to explain the motive. The 18th Century long-life Roman
descendants of this parallel Earth operate battery-powered cars, have
telephone and electrical usage, and are on the verge of creating nuclear
fission. As Edward ages past his first centennial era, he makes very
little progress on the case of his family member's death , but humanity,
meanwhile, has at least colonized the solar system. After his second
centennial era, more doors to the case become shut and the science of
the time pushes the investigation deeper still. Humanity now colonizes
the stars in the early 21st century. --- There's a heavy focus on the
history of this alternative universe, which siphons page space away from
some much needed characterization. While all together interesting along
the lines of Stross' Accelerando, the cast are merely cardboard cutouts
with names. 85 pages

Footvote (2004, shortstory) - 4/5 - A single wormhole to a new
world is opened by a single man who is the only person alive knowing
how it operates and who is the same man who has written the new
stringent laws for entry onto the planet. Colin is the ex-husband of
Jannette and has decided to find a better life on New Suffolk rather
than eke out an existence in England during the current depression
gripping the kingdom brought on by the exodus to the new planet. Collin
packs for the trip to the wormhole with his kids while Jannette prepares
for a wormhole protests. --- Using a bit of current news in his SF
story, Hamilton throws in the ongoing economic hardship with the twist
of a new wormhole. The cast may be limited but there's a good
sympathetic quality to Colin and Jannette. 25 pages

If at
First... (2007, shortstory) - 5/5 - Chief detective Lanson investigates a seemingly
persistent stalker of a very wealthy, very industrious technology
entrepreneur. Jenson, the perpetrator, spins a story of how the tycoon
has built a time machine to inhabit the mind of his childhood self in
order to make huge money. The detective is oddly intrigued by the story
of logic and coincidences, and so decides to go after the truth. ---
Short and sweet with a great ending. Great possibilities with the story,
makes you think and smile. 11 pages

The Forever Kitten (2005, shortstory) - 4/5 -
Creator of pre-pubescent rejuvenation is bailed out of jail by a wealthy
family man. An original kitten from the experimental rejuvenation is in
the man's possession and wishes for the procedure to be repeated before
the deadline looms. --- A predictable but cute story engineered by
Hamilton with traces of pre-Commonwealth commonalities. 4 pages

Blessed
by an Angel (2007, shortstory) - 3/5 - A Higher "angel" covertly descends upon the
anti-Higher planet of Anagaska (of the Void Trilogy), where it seeks to
proselytize its Higher morals among the Advancer citizens. Police Chief
Paul tracks down the Higher in order to stop its blatant infection of
the population, where three youth are both the players and the pawns.
--- Again, somewhat predictable by nature, the story unfolds in a linear
fashion while ironing out the pleats of rising questions. A nice
addition to the Void history. 18 pages

The Demon Trap (2008, novella) - 3/5 - The
death of three Dynasty members aboard a shot down plane on the nearly
barren planet of Nova Zealand is cause enough to assign the newly
rejuvenated Paula Myo to the case. The investigation is done is a
perfectly tidy manner put the ultimate motivation for the assassination
will call upon Paula's own ties to her history on the infamous planet of
Huxley's Haven (of the Commonwealth series). --- Paula shines in this
story as her investigative skills are pressed full on. The sequence of
events is a joy to watch but the after-the-fact sequences of working out
the ultimate motivation is a bit hairy. Not so sure about the ending.
73 pages

Manhattan in Reverse (2011, novella) - 3/5 - The colony planet of Menard
is having trouble with its indigenous species, which are classifies as
non-sentient yet are now exhibiting some primal proto-sentient behavior.
Who better in the Commonwealth than Paula Myo to wedge into an
investigation like his! --- Paula is a very odd inclusion to the story
which doesn't involve the Directorate whatsoever. Snip a few plot
strings and the story could be bereft of the Commonwealth altogether,
which would have improved the story's independence when compared to the
rest of the collection. 44 pages